R&D Tax Credit Calculator

Calculate your potential R&D tax credit or relief based on your qualifying expenditure and company size.

Company Details
Determines which scheme applies
Loss-making SMEs only - higher credit rate
Financial Information
£
Enter negative for losses
%
19% for profits under £50k, 25% over £250k
Qualifying R&D Expenditure

Enter your qualifying R&D expenditure in each category. Only costs directly related to R&D projects qualify.

£
Salaries, NI, pension for R&D staff
£
External R&D contractors
£
Materials, utilities used in R&D
£
Data licenses, cloud costs for R&D
£
Agency/seconded staff
£
Payments to trial participants
Total Qualifying R&D Expenditure

£300,000

Understanding R&D Tax Credits
What Qualifies as R&D?

To qualify, your project must seek an advance in science or technology through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainty. The work must not be readily deducible by a competent professional in the field.

Qualifying Expenditure
  • Staff costs: Salaries, NI, pension contributions for employees directly involved in R&D
  • Subcontractors: Third-party providers of R&D services (restrictions apply)
  • Consumables: Materials and utilities consumed or transformed in R&D
  • Software: Licenses and cloud computing costs used for R&D
  • Clinical trials: Payments to volunteers in qualifying trials
The Schemes
Scheme Who Qualifies Key Rate
Merged Scheme (from April 2024) Most companies 20% RDEC credit
Enhanced R&D Intensive Loss-making SMEs with R&D ≥30% 27% payable credit
SME Scheme (pre-April 2024) SMEs (historical claims) 86% enhancement
Common R&D Activities
  • Developing new products or services
  • Improving existing products or processes
  • Software development (innovative aspects)
  • Developing prototypes or pilot plants
  • Overcoming technical challenges
R&D Rates 2026/27
Merged Scheme (RDEC)
RDEC Credit Rate 20%
Net of CT (25%) 15%
R&D Intensive SME
Enhancement Rate 86%
Payable Credit 14.5%

R&D intensive = qualifying R&D ≥ 30% of total expenditure

Eligibility Checklist
  • ✓ Seeking advance in science/technology
  • ✓ Overcoming technical uncertainty
  • ✓ Not readily deducible by professionals
  • ✓ UK company subject to Corporation Tax
  • ✓ Expenditure incurred and not subsidised
  • ✓ Claimed within 2 years of period end
Claim Tips
  • Keep detailed project records
  • Document technical uncertainties
  • Track staff time on R&D projects
  • Separate qualifying from non-qualifying costs
  • Consider making a claim for past 2 years
  • Get technical sign-off from competent professionals